San Diego County Charge: Out of county resident charged with felony assault and battery involving multiple victims and great bodily and serious injuries Result: Verdict, Not Guilty on All 7 counts of Assault and Battery with Great Bodily Injury and Multiple Strikes.San Diego County Charge: 69 year old man driving under the influence of methamphetamine onto oncoming traffic Result: Hung Jury and District Attorney Dismissed DUI San Diego County Charge: Mother of two evading police in hit and run charge with serious bodily injury Result: District Attorney Dismissed after Successful Line-Up Motion San Diego County Charge: Juvenile charged with running over her ex boyfriend at high school Result: Court Dismissed case after Argument Made In Mitigation San Diego County Charge: Spouse arrested for domestic violence after 911 calls and pictures of serious bodily injury Result: District Attorney Dismissed at Trial San Diego County Charge: Military member arrested for assault and battery Result: Court Dismissed after successful argument for Military Diversion San Diego Federal Charge: 19-year-old student charged with Alien Smuggling Result: Case Dismissed after negotiations with US Attorney

San Diego Sexual Battery Lawyer

Sexual Battery in San Diego

In San Diego sexual assault is charged through sexual battery charges. Sexual battery involves the unlawful touching of another’s private parts motivated by a desire to sexually arouse or gratify themselves or offend or abuse the other person. It is important to note that even touching through a person's clothes is enough for sexual battery.

Understanding Penal Code Section 243.4

In consideration of the seriousness of sexual battery or rape, California has criminalized it under Penal Code section 243.4. Under this law, “Any person who touches an intimate part of another person while that person is unlawfully restrained by the accused or an accomplice, and if the touching is against the will of the person touched and is for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, is guilty of sexual battery. A violation of this subdivision is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, and by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000); or by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years, and by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000).”

Basically, to convict someone of PC 243.4, the prosecutor must prove each of the following elements:

The defendant willfully or purposefully touched the private parts of another;

The defendant did so against the person’s will;

The person did not consent to the touching;

The defendant’s specific intent to engage in unwanted touching was for sexual arousal, gratification, offense, or abuse.

Sexual Battery Can Be Filed As a Misdemeanor or a Felony

The willful and unlawful touching of another’s private parts is a wobbler. A wobbler is a charge that the prosecutor has discretion to file as either a misdemeanor or a felony. In sexual battery cases, the issuing attorney at the District Attorney’s Office determines the severity of the charges based on the following factors:

Whether the person was physically restrained.

Whether the person was unconscious.

Whether the person was mentally incapacitated.

Misdemeanor Sexual Battery Penalties

A sentence of 6 months to 1 year in county jail;

A maximum fine of up to $2,000;

Informal probation;

Lifetime duty to register as a sex offender.

Felony Sexual Battery Penalties

A maximum sentence of 2, 3, or 4 years in California state prison;

A maximum fine of up to $10,000;

Formal probation;

Lifetime duty to register as a sex offender.

Implications of PC 290 for Sexual Battery

Penal Code section 290 requires anyone convicted under Penal Code section 243.4 for sexual battery to register as a sex offender in California. Sex offender registration is a lifetime duty that requires a person to provide local law enforcement agencies with a head shot, known aliases, general description, latest address, and details of the offense and conviction. Also, a registered sex offender will have to update this information with DOJ annually, within five working days of their birthday and each time they change residence, within five days of the move. All of this information goes on a registered sex offender database that is published by the California Department of Justice on Megan's Law web site. Megan's Law web site gives the general public access to the registered sex offender's information. The Sex Offender Tracking Program will be responsible for updating a registered sex offender's information on the web site daily, keep track of the next required update, and if a registered sex offender is in violation notify the public that the sex offender registrant may pose a risk. You do not want to be labeled a predator and have to go thru this hassle the rest of your life. Contact experienced criminal defense attorney Vik Monder at (619)405-0063 now so that he can help you avoid this detriment while you still can. The reality is that once you have been convicted for a sexual battery it will be too late. You cannot opt out of registering or purposely fail to register as a sex offender, doing so will only result in additional felony charges against you!

Immigration Implications for Sexual Battery

In addition to the criminal penalties under PC 243.4, a defendant who is not a U.S. citizen and is convicted of sexual battery will face immigration consequences. Sexual battery is a crime of violence that if convicted as a felony will be automatically considered an aggravated felony if a sentence of one year or more is imposed. Sexual battery is also considered a crime or moral turpitude. Crimes of moral turpitude are offenses that the U.S. government considers go against society's standards of morality. Consequently, a conviction for sexual battery or prostitution/ solicitation could render a non U.S. citizen defendant inadmissible. Inadmissibility means that the defendant will not be eligible for a green card, citizenship or be allowed to re-enter the U.S. If you are facing charges of sexual battery under California Penal Code 243.4, you may be subject to removal or deportation proceedings if convicted. This does not have to happen to you, contact attorney Vik Monder, he will fight to keep everything you have worked so hard to build a life in this country! At Monder Law Group, we know the immigration implications your charges carry and we will ensure that your defense strategies focuses on avoiding these detrimental consequences at all cost.

Not Guilty

These are some of the criminal defenses that we can assert on your behalf to help you overcome the charges sexual assault filed against you:

Consent; the person consented to the touching

Insufficient evidence; inconsistent witness statement.

False Accusations; you did not unlawfully touch anybody.

Best Defense

If you are being charged with sexual assault/battery charge, make sure to contact experienced criminal defense attorney Vik Monder in order to get your best defense prepared as soon as possible. Sexual assault/battery requires convicted defendant’s register as sex offenders for life. The sooner you call experienced attorney Vik Monder, the better chance you will have at beating your case and getting it dismissed. Sex crimes, such as sexual assault and battery are serious charges that can change your life. Do not cheat yourself and hire an experienced attorney that knows how to fight for your rights and get you the results you deserve!

You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future.

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You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future.